For people who use drugs, or are recovering from problematic drug use, stigma can be a barrier to a wide range of opportunities and rights. People who are stigmatized can endure:

• Social rejection
• Labeling
• Stereotyping
• Discrimination
• Denial of employment or housing
• Accessing treatment
  
  

Even among people who use drugs, stigma towards other who use a different drug can be common.

• Those who use alcohol (legal and socially acceptable) feel negatively about illegal drug use (marijuana)
• Those who use illegal drugs perceived as “soft”, such as marijuana, feel prejudices against those who use powdered, harder drugs like cocaine.
• Those who snort drugs look down upon those who inject a drug.

YOU can help end stigma by:

• Learning the facts about different drugs
• Learning the facts about drug use and addiction
• Understanding and sharing information about evidence-based treatment for substance abuse
• Language matters – instead of referring to someone as a “junkie” or “addict”, say “a person addicted to drugs”.